Action and cooperation in alginate degradation by three enzymes from the human gut bacterium Bacteroides eggerthii DSM 20697.

Alginate is a polysaccharide consumed by humans in edible seaweed and different foods where it is applied as a texturizing hydrocolloid or in encapsulations of drugs and probiotics. While gut bacteria are found to utilize and ferment alginate to health beneficial short chain fatty acids, knowledge on details of the molecular reactions is sparse. Alginates are composed of mannuronic acid (M) and its C-5 epimer guluronic acid (G). An alginate related polysaccharide utilization locus (PUL) has been identified in the gut bacterium Bacteroides eggerthii DSM 20697. The PUL encodes two polysaccharide lyases (PLs) from the PL6 (BePL6) and PL17 (BePL17) families as well as a KdgF-like metalloprotein (BeKdgF) known to catalyze ring-opening of 4,5-unsaturated monouronates yielding 4-deoxy-l-erythro-5-hexoseulose uronate (DEH). B. eggerthii DSM 20697 does not grow on alginate, but readily proliferates with a lag phase of a few hours in the presence of an endo-acting alginate lyase A1-I from the marine bacterium Sphingomonas sp. A1. The B. eggerthii lyases are both exo-acting and while BePL6 is strictly G-block specific, BePL17 prefers M-blocks. BeKdgF retained 10-27% activity in the presence of 0.1-1 mM EDTA. X-ray crystallography was used to investigate the three-dimensional structure of BeKdgF, based on which a catalytic mechanism was proposed to involve Asp102, acting as acid/base having pKa of 5.9 as determined by NMR pH titration. BePL6 and BePL17 cooperate in alginate degradation with BeKdgF linearizing produced 4,5-unsaturated monouronates. Their efficiency of alginate degradation was much enhanced by addition of the A1-I alginate lyase.

Glucuronan lyases from family PL7 use a Tyr/Tyr syn ß-elimination catalytic mechanism for glucuronan breakdown.

TpPL7A and TpPL7B, members of CAZy family PL7, act as ß-glucuronan lyases. TpPL7A diverges by lacking the catalytic histidine, identified as the Brønsted base in PL7 alginate lyases. Our research, including TpPL7A's crystal structure, and mutagenesis studies, reveals a shared syn-ß-elimination mechanism with a single tyrosine serving as both base and acid catalyst. This mechanism may extend to subfamily PL7_4 glucuronan lyases.

Tuning Electroluminescence from Functionalized SWCNT Networks Further into the Near-Infrared.

Near-infrared electroluminescence from carbon-based emitters, especially in the second biological window (NIR-II) or at telecommunication wavelengths, is difficult to achieve. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been proposed as a possible solution due to their tunable and narrowband emission in the near-infrared region and high charge carrier mobilities. Furthermore, the covalent functionalization of SWCNTs with a controlled number of luminescent sp3 defects leads to even more red-shifted photoluminescence with enhanced quantum yields. Here, we demonstrate that by tailoring the binding configuration of the introduced sp3 defects and hence tuning their optical trap depth, we can generate emission from polymer-sorted (6,5) and (7,5) nanotubes that is mainly located in the telecommunication O-band (1260-1360 nm). Networks of these functionalized nanotubes are integrated in ambipolar, light-emitting field-effect transistors to yield the corresponding narrowband near-infrared electroluminescence. Further investigation of the current- and carrier density-dependent electro- and photoluminescence spectra enables insights into the impact of different sp3 defects on charge transport in networks of functionalized SWCNTs.

Three alginate lyases provide a new gut Bacteroides ovatus isolate with the ability to grow on alginate.

Humans consume alginate in the form of seaweed, food hydrocolloids, and encapsulations, making the digestion of this mannuronic acid (M) and guluronic acid (G) polymer of key interest for human health. To increase knowledge on alginate degradation in the gut, a gene catalog from human feces was mined for potential alginate lyases (ALs). The predicted ALs were present in nine species of the Bacteroidetes phylum, of which two required supplementation of an endo-acting AL, expected to mimic cross-feeding in the gut. However, only a new isolate grew on alginate. Whole-genome sequencing of this alginate-utilizing isolate suggested that it is a new Bacteroides ovatus strain harboring a polysaccharide utilization locus (PUL) containing three ALs of families: PL6, PL17, and PL38. The BoPL6 degraded polyG to oligosaccharides of DP 1-3, and BoPL17 released 4,5-unsaturated monouronate from polyM. BoPL38 degraded both alginates, polyM, polyG, and polyMG, in endo-mode; hence, it was assumed to deliver oligosaccharide substrates for BoPL6 and BoPL17, corresponding well with synergistic action on alginate. BoPL17 and BoPL38 crystal structures, determined at 1.61 and 2.11 Å, respectively, showed (α/α)6-barrel + anti-parallel ß-sheet and (α/α)7-barrel folds, distinctive for these PL families. BoPL17 had a more open active site than the two homologous structures. BoPL38 was very similar to the structure of an uncharacterized PL38, albeit with a different triad of residues possibly interacting with substrate in the presumed active site tunnel. Altogether, the study provides unique functional and structural insights into alginate-degrading lyases of a PUL in a human gut bacterium.IMPORTANCEHuman ingestion of sustainable biopolymers calls for insight into their utilization in our gut. Seaweed is one such resource with alginate, a major cell wall component, used as a food hydrocolloid and for encapsulation of pharmaceuticals and probiotics. Knowledge is sparse on the molecular basis for alginate utilization in the gut. We identified a new Bacteroides ovatus strain from human feces that grew on alginate and encoded three alginate lyases in a gene cluster. BoPL6 and BoPL17 show complementary specificity toward guluronate (G) and mannuronate (M) residues, releasing unsaturated oligosaccharides and monouronic acids. BoPL38 produces oligosaccharides degraded by BoPL6 and BoPL17 from both alginates, G-, M-, and MG-substrates. Enzymatic and structural characterization discloses the mode of action and synergistic degradation of alginate by these alginate lyases. Other bacteria were cross-feeding on alginate oligosaccharides produced by an endo-acting alginate lyase. Hence, there is an interdependent community in our guts that can utilize alginate.

Unified Quantification of Quantum Defects in Small-Diameter Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Raman Spectroscopy.

The covalent functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with luminescent quantum defects enables their application as near-infrared single-photon sources, as optical sensors, and for in vivo tissue imaging. Tuning the emission wavelength and defect density is crucial for these applications. While the former can be controlled by different synthetic protocols and is easily measured, defect densities are still determined as relative rather than absolute values, limiting the comparability between different nanotube batches and chiralities. Here, we present an absolute and unified quantification metric for the defect density in SWCNT samples based on Raman spectroscopy. It is applicable to a range of small-diameter semiconducting nanotubes and for arbitrary laser wavelengths. We observe a clear inverse correlation of the D/G+ ratio increase with nanotube diameter, indicating that curvature effects contribute significantly to the defect activation of Raman modes. Correlation of intermediate frequency modes with defect densities further corroborates their activation by defects and provides additional quantitative metrics for the characterization of functionalized SWCNTs.

Investigation of the structural and immunomodulatory properties of alkali-soluble ß-glucans from Pleurotus eryngii fruiting bodies.

Fungal ß-glucans have received a lot of interest due to their proinflammatory activity towards cells of the innate immune system. Although commonly described as (1➔3)-ß-glucans with varying degree of (1➔6)-branching, the fungal ß-glucans constitute a diverse polysaccharide class. In this study, the alkali-soluble ß-glucans from the edible mushroom Pleurotus eryngii were extracted and characterized by GC, GC-MS and 2D NMR analyses. The extracts contain several structurally different polysaccharides, including a (1➔3)-ß-d-glucan with single glucose units attached at O-6, and a (1➔6)-ß-d-glucan, possibly branched at O-3. The immunomodulatory activities of the P. eryngii extracts were assessed by investigating their ability to bind to the receptor dectin-1, and their ability to induce production of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß in LPS-differentiated THP-1 cells. Although the samples were able to bind to the dectin-1a receptor, they did not induce production of significant levels of cytokines in the THP-1 cells. Positive controls of yeast-derived (1➔3)-ß-d-glucans with branches at O-6 induced cytokine production in the cells. Thus, it appears that the P. eryngii ß-glucans are unable to induce production of proinflammatory cytokines in LPS-differentiated THP-1 cells, despite being able to activate the human dectin-1a receptor.

Functional characterization of a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase from Schizophyllum commune that degrades non-crystalline substrates.

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are mono-copper enzymes that use O2 or H2O2 to oxidatively cleave glycosidic bonds. LPMOs are prevalent in nature, and the functional variation among these enzymes is a topic of great interest. We present the functional characterization of one of the 22 putative AA9-type LPMOs from the fungus Schizophyllum commune, ScLPMO9A. The enzyme, expressed in Escherichia coli, showed C4-oxidative cleavage of amorphous cellulose and soluble cello-oligosaccharides. Activity on xyloglucan, mixed-linkage ß-glucan, and glucomannan was also observed, and product profiles differed compared to the well-studied C4-oxidizing NcLPMO9C from Neurospora crassa. While NcLPMO9C is also active on more crystalline forms of cellulose, ScLPMO9A is not. Differences between the two enzymes were also revealed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) titration studies showing that, in contrast to NcLPMO9C, ScLPMO9A has higher affinity for linear substrates compared to branched substrates. Studies of H2O2-fueled degradation of amorphous cellulose showed that ScLPMO9A catalyzes a fast and specific peroxygenase reaction that is at least two orders of magnitude faster than the apparent monooxygenase reaction. Together, these results show that ScLPMO9A is an efficient LPMO with a broad substrate range, which, rather than acting on cellulose, has evolved to act on amorphous and soluble glucans.

The effect of linker conformation on performance and stability of a two-domain lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase.

A considerable number of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) and other carbohydrate-active enzymes are modular, with catalytic domains being tethered to additional domains, such as carbohydrate-binding modules, by flexible linkers. While such linkers may affect the structure, function, and stability of the enzyme, their roles remain largely enigmatic, as do the reasons for natural variation in length and sequence. Here, we have explored linker functionality using the two-domain cellulose-active ScLPMO10C from Streptomyces coelicolor as a model system. In addition to investigating the WT enzyme, we engineered three linker variants to address the impact of both length and sequence and characterized these using small-angle X-ray scattering, NMR, molecular dynamics simulations, and functional assays. The resulting data revealed that, in the case of ScLPMO10C, linker length is the main determinant of linker conformation and enzyme performance. Both the WT and a serine-rich variant, which have the same linker length, demonstrated better performance compared with those with either a shorter linker or a longer linker. A highlight of our findings was the substantial thermostability observed in the serine-rich variant. Importantly, the linker affects thermal unfolding behavior and enzyme stability. In particular, unfolding studies show that the two domains unfold independently when mixed, whereas the full-length enzyme shows one cooperative unfolding transition, meaning that the impact of linkers in biomass-processing enzymes is more complex than mere structural tethering.

Community Validation of an Approach to Detect Delayed Diagnosis of Appendicitis in Big Databases.

BACKGROUND: Detection of delayed diagnosis using administrative databases may illuminate the healthcare settings at highest risk. A method for detection of delays in claims has been validated in children's hospitals. We sought to further validate the method in community emergency departments (EDs). METHODS: We studied patients <21 years old diagnosed with appendicitis from 2008 to 2019 in 8 eastern Massachusetts EDs. Eligible patients had 2 ED encounters within 7 days, the second with an appendicitis diagnosis. Delayed diagnosis was evaluated in medical records by trained reviewers. A previously validated trigger tool was applied to participants' electronic medical record data. The tool used data elements included in administrative data, including initial encounter diagnoses, time between encounters, presence of medical complexity, and ultimate length of stay. The tool assigned a probability of delayed diagnosis for each patient. Test characteristics at 4 confidence thresholds were determined, and the area under the receiver operating curve was calculated. RESULTS: We analyzed 68 children with 2 encounters leading to a diagnosis of appendicitis (i.e., possible delay). When assigning a delayed diagnosis prediction to patients at 4 thresholds of confidence (>0%, >50%, >75%, and >90% confident), the positive predictive values were respectively 74%, 89%, 92%, and 89%; the negative predictive values were respectively 100%, 57%, 50%, and 33%. The area under the receiver operating curve was 0.837 (95% confidence interval 0.719-0.954). CONCLUSIONS: A trigger tool that identifies delays in diagnosis using only administrative data in community EDs has a high positive predictive value for true delay. The tool may be applied in community EDs.

A glycan receptor kinase facilitates intracellular accommodation of arbuscular mycorrhiza and symbiotic rhizobia in the legume Lotus japonicus.

Receptors that distinguish the multitude of microbes surrounding plants in the environment enable dynamic responses to the biotic and abiotic conditions encountered. In this study, we identify and characterise a glycan receptor kinase, EPR3a, closely related to the exopolysaccharide receptor EPR3. Epr3a is up-regulated in roots colonised by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and is able to bind glucans with a branching pattern characteristic of surface-exposed fungal glucans. Expression studies with cellular resolution show localised activation of the Epr3a promoter in cortical root cells containing arbuscules. Fungal infection and intracellular arbuscule formation are reduced in epr3a mutants. In vitro, the EPR3a ectodomain binds cell wall glucans in affinity gel electrophoresis assays. In microscale thermophoresis (MST) assays, rhizobial exopolysaccharide binding is detected with affinities comparable to those observed for EPR3, and both EPR3a and EPR3 bind a well-defined ß-1,3/ß-1,6 decasaccharide derived from exopolysaccharides of endophytic and pathogenic fungi. Both EPR3a and EPR3 function in the intracellular accommodation of microbes. However, contrasting expression patterns and divergent ligand affinities result in distinct functions in AM colonisation and rhizobial infection in Lotus japonicus. The presence of Epr3a and Epr3 genes in both eudicot and monocot plant genomes suggest a conserved function of these receptor kinases in glycan perception.

Following the Fate of Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenases under Oxidative Conditions by NMR Spectroscopy.

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are copper-dependent enzymes that catalyze oxidative cleavage of polysaccharides, such as cellulose and chitin. LPMO catalysis requires a reductant, such as ascorbic acid, and hydrogen peroxide, which can be generated in situ in the presence of molecular oxygen and various electron donors. While it is known that reduced LPMOs are prone to autocatalytic oxidative damage due to off-pathway reactions with the oxygen co-substrate, little is known about the structural consequences of such damage. Here, we present atomic-level insights into how the structure of the chitin-active SmLPMO10A is affected by oxidative damage using NMR and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Incubation with ascorbic acid could lead to rearrangements of aromatic residues, followed by more profound structural changes near the copper-active site and loss of activity. Longer incubation times induced changes in larger parts of the structure, indicative of progressing oxidative damage. Incubation with ascorbic acid in the presence of chitin led to similar changes in the observable (i.e., not substrate-bound) fraction of the enzyme. Upon subsequent addition of H2O2, which drastically speeds up chitin hydrolysis, NMR signals corresponding to seemingly intact SmLPMO10A reappeared, indicating dissociation of catalytically competent LPMO. Activity assays confirmed that SmLPMO10A retained catalytic activity when pre-incubated with chitin before being subjected to conditions that induce oxidative damage. Overall, this study provides structural insights into the process of oxidative damage of SmLPMO10A and demonstrates the protective effect of the substrate.

Hydrogels based on methylated-alginates as a platform to investigate the effect of material properties on cell activity. The role of material compliance.

Alginate-based hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties are developed by chemical methylation of the polysaccharide backbone, which was performed either in homogeneous phase (in solution) or in heterogeneous phase (on hydrogels). Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC-MALS) analyses of methylated alginates allow to identify the presence and location of methyl groups on the polysaccharide, and to investigate the influence of methylation on the stiffness of the polymer chains. The methylated polysaccharides are employed for the manufacturing of calcium-reticulated hydrogels for cell growth in 3D. The rheological characterization shows that the shear modulus of hydrogels is dependent on the amount of cross-linker used. Methylated alginates represent a platform to explore the effect of mechanical properties on cell activity. As an example, the effect of compliance is investigated using hydrogels displaying similar shear modulus. An osteosarcoma cell line (MG-63) was encapsulated in the alginate hydrogels and the effect of material compliance on cell proliferation and localization of YAP/TAZ protein complex is investigated by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The results point out that an increase of material compliance leads to an increase of the proliferative rate of cells and correlates with the translocation of YAP/TAZ inside the cell nucleus.

CRISPR-Cas9 driven structural elucidation of the heteroexopolysaccharides from Paenibacillus polymyxa DSM 365.

Paenibacillus polymyxa is a Gram-positive soil bacterium known for producing a wide range of exopolysaccharides. However, due to the biopolymer's complexity, structural elucidation has so far been inconclusive. Combinatorial knock-outs of glycosyltransferases were generated in order to separate distinct polysaccharides produced by P. polymyxa. Using a complementary analytical approach consisting of carbohydrate fingerprints, sequence analysis, methylation analysis as well as NMR spectroscopy, the structure of the repeating units of two additional heteroexopolysaccharides termed paenan I and paenan III were elucidated. Results for paenan I identified a trisaccharide backbone consisting of 1➔4-ß-d-Glc, 1➔4-ß-d-Man and a 1,3,4-branching ß-d-Gal residue with a sidechain comprising of a terminal ß-d-Gal3,4-Pyr and 1➔3-ß-d-Glc. For paenan III, results indicated a backbone consisting of 1➔3-ß-d-Glc, 1,3,4-linked α-d-Man and 1,3,4-linked α-d-GlcA. NMR analysis indicated monomeric ß-d-Glc and α-d-Man sidechains for the branching Man and GlcA residues respectively.

Tuning alginate ß-lactoglobulin complex coacervation by modulating pH and temperature.

The use of biomolecules in food matrices and encapsulation systems is, as in other areas, moving towards greener solutions and a center piece here is the complex coacervation between natural anionic polysaccharides and proteins. Both alginate and ß-lactoglobulin (ß-Lg) are used in different sectors and have been shown to coacervate at pH < 5.2. Albeit with increased interest, complex coacervation has almost exclusively been studied from a macromolecular perspective, and described as an interaction based on charge-charge attraction. Here, we show that through changes in pH and temperature, alginate ß-Lg complex coacervation can be tuned to purpose. By detailed biophysical and chemical characterization of coacervation and coacervate particles, insights into the molecular interaction and effect of external factors are obtained. We find that carboxylate resonance stabilization causes a release of protons at pH < pKa,alginate and an uptake of protons at pH > pKa,alginate upon coacervation. Proton release and uptake were quantified at pH 2.65 and 4.00 by isothermal titration calorimetry to be 4 and 2 protons per ß-Lg molecule, respectively. By increasing the temperature to 65 °C, we discovered a secondary ß-Lg concentration dependent coacervation step, where the formed particles change into large assemblies driven by entropy. These findings bring new insights to complex coacervation and its applicability in microencapsulation and drug delivery.

Clinician factors associated with delayed diagnosis of appendicitis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association of clinician demographics and practice patterns with delayed diagnosis of appendicitis. METHODS: We included children with appendicitis at 13 regional emergency departments (EDs). We screened patients with a previous ED visit within 7 days for delayed diagnosis by chart review. We evaluated the association of clinician characteristics using logistic regression with random intercepts for site and clinician and delay as the outcome. RESULTS: Among 7,452 children with appendicitis, 105 (1.4%) had delayed diagnosis. Clinicians in the lowest quartile of obtaining blood in their general practice were more likely to have delayed diagnosis (odds ratio 4.9 compared to highest quartile, 95% confidence interval 1.8, 13.8). Clinicians' imaging rates, specialty, sex, and experience were not associated with delayed diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians who used more blood tests in their general practice had a lower risk of delayed diagnosis of appendicitis, possible evidence that lower risk tolerance has benefits.

Molecular insights into alginate ß-lactoglobulin A multivalencies-The foundation for their amorphous aggregates and coacervation.

For improved control of biomaterial property design, a better understanding of complex coacervation involving anionic polysaccharides and proteins is needed. Here, we address the initial steps in condensate formation of ß-lactoglobulin A (ß-LgA) with nine defined alginate oligosaccharides (AOSs) and describe their multivalent interactions in structural detail. Binding of AOSs containing four, five, or six uronic acid residues (UARs), either all mannuronate (M), all guluronate (G), or alternating M and G embodying the block structural components of alginates, was characterized by isothermal titration calorimetry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and molecular docking. ß-LgA was highly multivalent exhibiting binding stoichiometries decreasing from five to two AOSs with increasing degree of polymerization (DP) and similar affinities in the mid micromolar range. The different AOS binding sites on ß-LgA were identified by NMR chemical shift perturbation analyses and showed diverse compositions of charged, polar and hydrophobic residues. Distinct sites for the shorter AOSs merged to accommodate longer AOSs. The AOSs bound dynamically to ß-LgA, as concluded from saturation transfer difference and 1 H-ligand-targeted NMR analyses. Molecular docking using Glide within the Schrödinger suite 2016-1 revealed the orientation of AOSs to only vary slightly at the preferred ß-LgA binding site resulting in similar XP glide scores. The multivalency coupled with highly dynamic AOS binding with lack of confined conformations in the ß-LgA complexes may help explain the first steps toward disordered ß-LgA alginate coacervate structures.

Delayed diagnosis of serious paediatric conditions in 13 regional emergency departments.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate rates, risk factors and outcomes of delayed diagnosis of seven serious paediatric conditions. METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study of children under 21 years old visiting 13 community and tertiary emergency departments (EDs) with appendicitis, bacterial meningitis, intussusception, mastoiditis, ovarian torsion, sepsis or testicular torsion. Delayed diagnosis was defined as having a previous ED encounter within 1 week in which the condition was present per case review. Patients with delayed diagnosis were each matched to four control patients without delay by condition, facility and age. Conditional logistic regression models evaluated risk factors of delay. Complications were compared between by delayed diagnosis status. RESULTS: Among 14 972 children, delayed diagnosis occurred in 1.1% (range 0.3% for sepsis to 2.6% for ovarian torsion). Hispanic (matched OR 2.71, 95% CI 1.69 to 4.35) and non-Hispanic black (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.21 to 4.79) race/ethnicity were associated with delayed diagnosis, whereas Asian and other race/ethnicity were not. Public (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.42 to 3.44) and other (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.50 to 3.93) insurance were also associated with delay. Non-English language was associated with delay (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.69). Abnormal vital signs were associated with a lower likelihood of delay (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.25). In an adjusted model, Hispanic race/ethnicity, other insurance, abnormal vital signs and complex chronic conditions (CCCs) were associated with delay. The odds of a complication were 2.5-fold (95% CI 1.6 to 3.8) higher among patients with a delay. CONCLUSION: Delayed diagnosis was uncommon across 13 regional EDs but was more likely among children with Hispanic ethnicity, CCCs or normal vital signs. Delays were associated with a higher risk of complications.

Unaided efficient transglutaminase cross-linking of whey proteins strongly impacts the formation and structure of protein alginate particles.

There is a dogma within whey protein modification, which dictates the necessity of pretreatment to enzymatic cross-linking of ß-lactoglobulin (ß-Lg). Here microbial transglutaminase (MTG) cross-linked whey proteins and ß-Lg effectively in 50 mM NaHCO3, pH 8.5, without pretreatment. Cross-linked ß-Lg spanned 18 to >240 kDa, where 6 of 9 glutamines reacted with 8 of 15 lysines. The initial isopeptide bond formation caused loss of ß-Lg native structure with t1/2 = 3 h, while the polymerization occurred with t1/2 = 10 h. Further, cross-linking effects on protein carbohydrate interaction have been overlooked, leaving a gap in understanding of these complex food matrices. Complexation with alginate showed that ß-Lg cross-linking decreased onset of particle formation, hydrodynamic diameter, stoichiometry (ß-Lg/alginate) and dissociation constant. The complexation was favored at higher temperatures (40 °C), suggesting that hydrophobic interactions were important. Thus, ß-Lg was cross-linked without pretreatment and the resulting polymers gave rise to altered complexation with alginate.

"Jack-of-all-trades" is parthenogenetic.

Sex is evolutionarily more costly than parthenogenesis, evolutionary ecologists therefore wonder why sex is much more frequent than parthenogenesis in the majority of animal lineages. Intriguingly, parthenogenetic individuals and species are as common as or even more common than sexuals in some major and putative ancient animal lineages such as oribatid mites and rotifers. Here, we analyzed oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) as a model group because these mites are ancient (early Paleozoic), widely distributed around the globe, and include a high number of parthenogenetic species, which often co-exist with sexual oribatid mite species. There is evidence that the reproductive mode is phylogenetically conserved in oribatid mites, which makes them an ideal model to test hypotheses on the relationship between reproductive mode and species' ecological strategies. We used oribatid mites to test the frozen niche variation hypothesis; we hypothesized that parthenogenetic oribatid mites occupy narrow specialized ecological niches. We used the geographic range of species as a proxy for specialization as specialized species typically do have narrower geographic ranges than generalistic species. After correcting for phylogenetic signal in reproductive mode and demonstrating that geographic range size has no phylogenetic signal, we found that parthenogenetic lineages have a higher probability to have broader geographic ranges than sexual species arguing against the frozen niche variation hypothesis. Rather, the results suggest that parthenogenetic oribatid mite species are more generalistic than sexual species supporting the general-purpose genotype hypothesis. The reason why parthenogenetic oribatid mite species are generalists with wide geographic range sizes might be that they are of ancient origin reflecting that they adapted to varying environmental conditions during evolutionary history. Overall, our findings indicate that parthenogenetic oribatid mite species possess a widely adapted general-purpose genotype and therefore might be viewed as "Jack-of-all-trades."

Absolute Quantification of sp3 Defects in Semiconducting Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes by Raman Spectroscopy.

The functionalization of semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with luminescent sp3 defects creates red-shifted emission features in the near-infrared and boosts their photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs). While multiple synthetic routes for the selective introduction of sp3 defects have been developed, a convenient metric to precisely quantify the number of defects on a SWCNT lattice is not available. Here, we present a direct and simple quantification protocol based on a linear correlation of the integrated Raman D/G+ signal ratios and defect densities as extracted from PLQY measurements. Corroborated by a statistical analysis of single-nanotube emission spectra at cryogenic temperature, this method enables the quantitative evaluation of sp3 defect densities in (6,5) SWCNTs with an error of ±3 defects per micrometer and the determination of oscillator strengths for different defect types. The developed protocol requires only standard Raman spectroscopy and is independent of the defect configuration, dispersion solvent, and nanotube length.